Chapter 4: New Routines?
"Do you even understand what you just offered to those two?" Happy couldn't resist expressing his thinly veiled frustrations about Tony's decision to suddenly house the two teenagers at his estate until they're old enough to leave. He rubbed the bridge of his nose before letting out a sigh after replaying those words in his head once more, "Before you guys say a word, I am not suggesting we throw them to the wolves. My problem is keeping two teenagers – ones with superpowers – under your watch. Any attention drawn to them will make life very difficult for everyone in this room."
Tony knew ignoring the concerns from his friend was a mistake. Truth be told, the billionaire already had those fears in the back of his mind.
Originally, he believed they lacked the experience to protect themselves should someone to try hurt one or the other. After fighting criminals, terrorist organizations, and his old mentor, Tony believed neither of them was ready for what might come in the future. However, those concerns were flung to the side upon seeing the boy's green eyes. They were exhausted but hardened from whatever he's been through in life. Even the dark-haired girl possessed a similar look in her eyes.
It's why he was willing to bat for them, knowing his closest friends were going to be worried about what keeping them around, in the long run, might do. If anyone ever did find out about Mr. Midoriya and Ms. Yaoyorozu having genuine superpowers, he can only imagine what some organizations might do to try and get their hands on them.
"I perfectly understand the risks involved, Happy. Contrary to popular belief, I know exactly what I'm doing. Those two have nowhere to go. Besides, I already know SHIELD wouldn't hesitate to track them down. Fury might be someone with something resembling a moral code, I can't say the same for the rest of them," There was truth to Tony's words about such an enormous organization containing differing views, making it easy to realize other individuals are more questionable than others.
"You're telling us you can successfully keep an eye on two super-powered teenagers until one of them turns eighteen?" Pepper was probably the one who wanted to help those two the most but even she had reservations about this idea. "Is that right?"
"Yes, I can definitely make sure they don't do anything stupid while they stay with me," Tony saw his redhead assistant raise a brow, prompting him to defend himself. "I may not have the best track record. I am very well aware of that fact. That being said, however, I don't want those two to end up being thrown into a government lab or forced to work for a shady group. All I want is for them to build a life for themselves and try to...adjust to the best of their ability."
The room became deathly quiet as Tony waited for them to respond. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, manage to convince them. Pepper smiled at him, "I think I like this new you. For once, you're being responsible."
"Thank you for the vote of confidence. See? Someone here recognizes my potential to look after kids."
Pepper lost the smile and narrowed her eyes at him, "Do you want me to revoke my words?"
"N-No," A slight hint of fear was heard in Tony's voice.
"Then knock it off."
The exchange of words between Pepper and Tony would bring up many questions. None were more obvious than believing there was something more to the assistant and her boss. Happy – their friend – merely waited for the day when one of them just said 'screw it' and admit their feelings. It's honestly getting almost boring to see them avoid the topic they both feared to bring up.
Adults are supposed to know better than children, but Happy was thinking the two teenagers apparently had a better handle on their relationship than these two. Upon thinking about their guests, Happy turned his head around to scan the kitchen.
"Hey, where did those two kids go?" He asked them, cutting off their latest spat. "I don't remember them following us up from the garage."
"Oh, they wanted some space to talk alone," Tony casually said, not even bothering to look at his friend. "I said it was okay. Hell, I told them they could step outside if they really wanted some privacy."
"You what?" Happy was less than thrilled to learn two teenagers were walking around on the premises without any supervision. For someone in his position, it was imperative to know what was happening or else something might go wrong. "I think you shouldn't have done that," Happy spoke with caution.
"Eh," The billionaire shrugged. "I saw no real harm in letting them stretch their legs out, especially the boy. He's got pretty strong legs. I will give the kid that much, and didn't seem to have a single problem carrying his girlfriend along for the ride."
The raised brows from Happy and Pepper were amusing to Tony. Increased strength must have made it possible for someone like Mr. Midoriya to jump great distances, even putting Olympic-class athletes to shame. Carrying his girlfriend must have also been much easier to perform. Plus, he did see brief security footage to confirm that theory, especially since neither really revealed a lot about their powers.
Although, Tony still had doubts about some of the claims from them. The biggest one was being from a different universe but Jarvis couldn't seem to find a single shred of information about them. Still, they managed to prove him wrong about possessing superpowers. What's to say there was a single grain of truth to the idea of these two coming from another universe?
'Life was already complicated enough as a hero. Now, I have to keep an eye on a pair of superpowered teenagers for a couple of months,' Insanity couldn't even begin to describe what's been happening in his life as of late. Being kidnapped by terrorists, creating armor to be a hero, and falling for his long-time assistant. It's like he's become a magnet for the weird. He can only hope the future doesn't get weirder.
(X)
(Around the Same Time)
Learning to create and master Full-Cowl was a difficult process, and being forced to use a half-baked idea to take down a killer like Stain was beyond Izuku. There's a big difference between training with someone like Gran Torino versus fighting for his life and the life of a friend against Stain. Thankfully, he wasn't alone during the unexpected fight and received help from others. In the end, he manage to gleam some experience that refined his new move.
It's been nearly a year since the deadly encounter and Izuku could safely maneuver in places he thought impossible until he tried them. That's why he's become comfortable with the idea of carrying his dark-haired girlfriend while traveling faster than most world-class sprinters. Although, his mind wandered to a completely different place after looking at Momo for a split second.
The exhilaration Izuku might've felt from moving at such speeds was overshadowed by the feelings he felt for the dark-haired girls in his arms. No words seemed appropriate enough to describe how much he loved and treasured her. In fact, Izuku would even go as far as to say the proper words didn't exist.
"Darling, I think we're far enough from Mr. Stark's home."
Izuku – lost in his thoughts – began slowing down after hearing Momo speaking gently into his ear. The once impressive speed put on display became pedestrian as he came to a full stop. Despite running for what was minutes on end, Izuku's breathing remained normal throughout, showcasing improved stamina from the months of training. He let Momo down, slightly saddened by the idea of not being able to hold her anymore.
"Hope the ride wasn't too bumpy for you," Izuku remarked, trying to sound humorous as he noticed her silence. All he got from his girlfriend was a short response.
"It was fine."
He frowned at her words and tone. Over the past year, Izuku learned to read people through a variety of ways from their facial expressions, stance, and even their tone of voice. A big contributor was Momo as she was quite good at it. So he knew she was upset about something, and it didn't take him very long to figure out what was bugging her.
"...You still think he's lying about everything, don't you?" Izuku nearly cringed at how he sounded. It wasn't exactly normal for him to be asking these kinds of questions.
Momo let out an awkward laugh before she walked towards the edge of the cliff with her arms crossed. "Am I really that obvious?" She didn't try to hide the frustration building up inside.
"No, I just...I remembered how much you kept grilling Mr. Stark for answers," Izuku could only recall a few moments where Momo acted in such a manner. "Like you didn't believe a single word that came out of his mouth."
"Because it's not possible!" Momo looked at Izuku before pointing in the direction of the billionaire's home. "We...We were just in a fight for our lives against madmen like All for One and Shigaraki. How can we wake up and hear from someone we're no longer home?! That...we're in a different...place."
"I don't know," Izuku said truthfully. When he noticed the tears gathering in her eyes, Izuku closed the distance between them. He gently raised a hand and wiped them away as they started to fall. "However, I am worried about everyone back home too. My mom is probably asking All Might about where either of us might be. I want to see them again...just like you want to see your parents too."
Lying was never his thing. The same could be said about being able to comfort people in these moments. Thankfully, he's gotten better over the past year. After everything Momo has done for him, Izuku wanted to do nothing but return the favor for the woman he loved.
Other than the occasional gust of wind or seagull flying around them, there was utter silence between the couple. Momo leaned forward and rested her head against his shoulder.
"I'm sorry for yelling at you." She raised her head slightly, apologizing to Izuku for the outburst from earlier. "You didn't deserve to be on the receiving end of those words."
"Don't be sorry. You have every right to be upset about what's going on," Izuku said to her. A thought came to mind, which made him smile. "Besides, I think we can say not everything about today has been terrible."
Momo's brows furrowed at his last words, "And what would that be?"
"We still have each other, don't we?" The innocent question made Momo giggle at his attempt to help.
"Yes," Momo appreciated the optimism from her cheeseball. He might not be the most confident person in the world, but Izuku was probably at the top of the list when it came to stepping out of his comfort zone to help others when needed. "I...I think you have a good point there," A smile started forming on her face.
The two teenagers seemed satisfied with the silence as they held each other. Both of them had thoughts running around in their heads, but Izuku was the first to take a risk by voicing them out loud.
"All I wanted to be was a hero. I finally get a chance to fulfill my dreams...and suddenly we end up in a place where heroes aren't a thing," Izuku held back his desire to scoff at reality. The last few months have changed him in ways he never expected. Was it for better or for worse? He probably won't know anytime soon. "Guess I will be going down the same path as my dad."
Momo knew what he was referencing upon the mentioning of his father. She spoke up, "Mr. Stark never said you can't be a hero in this world. It's just not a profession here."
"But that means we're accepting the truth, meaning we might never see home again," The green-haired teenager said sadly. He let out a sigh before continuing, "Sorry...I'm not...I'm not trying to be a downer."
"It's alright," Momo replied calmly. "Neither of us seemed to be taking the news all that well."
A question came to Izuku's mind. He asked Momo to see what she thought, "Do you think we can ever go back home? Everyone has to be wondering where we are, and I can only imagine what the other heroes are thinking if they've realized we're...gone."
He never received an answer from Momo. No, the dark-haired girl frowned at the tone used by her boyfriend. It sounded as if he was preparing to blame himself should anything ever go wrong. The events of the last few weeks have especially been hard on everyone. She knew Izuku was ready to send his mind to dark places if he wasn't careful.
"Don't even think about going down that path," Momo said firmly, placing a hand on his cheek. "I will not tolerate you blaming yourself for what's happened. Do you hear me?"
Izuku did not answer the question. Despite his quiet nature, it did little to deter Momo from stepping back on the matter. They've spoken about the topic at hand a few times in the past. Except the difference was the circumstances facing them. Being in a new world was certainly going to stir up some emotions.
"Yeah...I hear you," The melancholic look on his hand started to disappear as he gently nodded his head. "It's...too easy at times to just...you know...fall down the rabbit hole."
"And I've told you...I'm more than willing to stay beside you throughout it all," No hint of hesitation was heard in Momo's voice. "I love you. Nothing is ever going to change that, and if it means being the rope keeping you from falling down...so be it."
"Even if it means starting over?" Izuku felt his heart-rate climb up as he asked such a question.
The smile on her face manages to calm him down. "Of course, I'm certain. If I was given a choice...I couldn't have been luckier to go through this with you."
He might've responded to those words if it wasn't for Momo closing the distance and kissing him. It made him realize there was a lot hanging over them. The concern for their families, friends, and even their respective mentors. A war tearing apart Japan. Their latest situation seem to be even worse as the chances of returning home seemed almost impossible. Yet all the green-haired teenager could focus on was the girl in his arms as he held her close.
(X)
(A Week Later)
Things are always easier said than done. Momo was beginning to realize whoever came up with such a phrase was wiser than anyone in their times, and recent events only strengthened her stance on the matter.
After their brief talk on the cliffside, Momo continued to replay their conversation with Tony Stark and his two friends about the offer. They ended up accepting. In all honesty, Momo knew their options were beyond limited in their situation. Maybe they could've found other people with knowledge and skills to do create fake backgrounds and IDs for people to use. The biggest downside was walking in and being forced to deal with individuals with unknown motives.
The offer from Tony Stark – a heroic billionaire with a laundry list of problems – was their safest route to a normal life.
How many people can claim they were offered such assistance from a man who possesses more wealth and connections than some countries can boast. Beyond their backgrounds, he even offered them a roof over their heads until they could stand on their own two legs, regardless of location. There was also the matter surrounding their education. Tony said he can ask around some schools around the country as he said some people owed him favors.
The only reason she didn't pry any further is because of Izuku. For whatever reason, her boyfriend came to his defense and said they could trust Tony Stark. Even back in their world, Izuku was one of the few people she came to trust wholeheartedly. If he said they could trust Tony Stark, then she was willing to give the heroic billionaire a chance.
A few days later, their names were registered into the government databases of Japan and the United States. Tony wanted to ensure if anyone went snooping around, all they would see is a pair of teenagers who came to the US for school. Although, there was something more to his reasoning as Momo could recall a look being shared between his friends. Whatever was being kept from them, the dark-haired girl had a feeling it wouldn't take long to find out.
It was weird to know her name – once a source of pride due to its background – carried no weight here in this world. She was essentially the only living member of the Yaoyorozu family. The responsibility to ensure it doesn't die out was on her shoulders. Izuku most likely felt a similar weight but in a very different manner.
Speaking of her boyfriend, Momo was forced to put her thoughts on hold as she felt someone come up from behind and wrap their arms around her waist.
"I always remember All Might showing me pictures of Santa Monica from his trips to the US," Izuku said, earning his girlfriend's attention. "Guess things aren't so...different here."
Momo agreed with those words. She replied back quietly, "Maybe we could've seen ours under some normal circumstances."
At the moment, the two teenagers were taking the first chance they've got to explore the nearby city of Los Angeles. They spent the week stuck inside Tony's estate while figuring out their background and adjusting to their new surroundings for the time. So after Pepper asked if they wanted to get out, neither of them hesitated to take them up on it. Other than Happy being somewhere else on the pier, Momo could say it felt like their first date in a good minute.
Numerous malls to check out, restaurants to visit, and an enormous city to walk around for hours as they tried to take a break from all the stress. Hard to believe they were fighting for their lives against endless waves of criminals and villains alike.
"Doesn't matter which one it is," Izuku noticed his girlfriend was a bit out of it. As a result, he decided to do what he does best; using the utterly cheesy lines at his disposal. "I don't think the sight in front of me would be as beautiful without you here."
Momo processed his comment in silence. Less than a few seconds later, she let a giggle escape her lips as she quickly covered her mouth. The dark-haired girl couldn't stop herself from smiling at the line he used, "Where do you keep on getting these lines from?"
When she turned her head towards him, Momo was met with Izuku shrugging his shoulders.
"I...just said what's on my mind, and you're always on my mind so I can't exactly say that," He replied, not even embarrassed by admitting such a thing. In the past, he could've never imagined revealing such a personal thought to someone, especially a girl like Momo. "Still, I want us to enjoy today. I mean, we aren't exactly going to be in town for much longer...right?"
Momo nodded, "Yeah, he said it would take a few days to set up everything." She continued speaking afterward. "But...are you alright with it? The last thing I want is for you to be uncomfortable. We did just get here."
"It's okay with me," Izuku eased her mind with his smile. "Doesn't matter if we stay here or head over to the Big Apple. We can go anywhere we want. As long as we're together, I couldn't care less. Besides, I...still have to think about what life...a regular life would look like with you. Maybe my time spent as a quirkless person might come in handy."
The mentioning of his former status as a quirkless individual brought a frown to Momo's face. An odd sight for the beautiful girl, but she remembered the stories about what happened to him as a child. It's infuriating to know her boyfriend experienced such a terrible childhood at the hands of people like their classmate, Bakugo. 'Calm down,' she told herself. 'We're far away from him. We're...starting over. It means Izuku gets a chance with a clean slate. That means the same for me. Although, I have to wonder what those previous users might be thinking…'
Due to her curiosity, Momo wanted to ask Izuku if he's had any conversations with Nana or the others in the last few days. She couldn't imagine them being happy with the situation. After all, they all died with the hopes of One for All being strong enough one day to bring down the ever-looming presence of All for One. Death was a potential hazard in a pro-hero's life, and working together in such a dangerous environment with a romantic partner was always risky.
Finding the right balance between maintaining a romantic relationship and staying focused wasn't easy. Or, those were the fears in the back of her mind.
Whatever fears she possessed about losing Izuku to All for One vanished immediately after learning the truth of their situation. Although, she did worry about him being a self-destructive idiot. The moment a building caught on fire or someone was being robbed nearby, she knew Izuku wouldn't hesitate to help those in trouble. In all honestly, Momo doubted she could stand on the sidelines either. Whatever might happen down the road was...something they'll deal with in a few days.
"As you said before, we are getting a chance to start over together," Momo reminded him, unable to deny the warm feeling it brought to her heart. However, she couldn't resist teasing him on what it means going forward if Tony was able to come through for them. The dark-haired girl soon whispered into Izuku's ear, "And we'll have some real privacy...you know what that means. Right, darling?"
Momo was thankful Izuku wasn't looking down, or he'd be seeing how flustered those words made her. Even if they aren't strangers to sex anymore, it's another thing to bring up what might happen behind their closed doors a few days from now. 'But...we practically slept in the same room together for the past year...this isn't as embarrassing as I imagined it would be.'
Luckily, Izuku seemed to be having the same thoughts as he spoke up. "I...I mean, the past year...kinda felt like we were living together already. Maybe this won't be any different...right?"
His attempt to sound normal was only betrayed by an overactive imagination. The thought of moving in together brought forth some interesting thoughts. He always knew about her incredible beauty from the moment he saw her on the first day of class. People would have to be blind to miss it. Yet he was still caught off-guard when they soon become more intimate with each other on a physical level. Then, like Catholic rabbits, it was more about finding the time and privacy.
'God, Mineta would be proud of me...wouldn't he?'
Upon thinking about his classmate, Izuku started to think about his classmates. All of them – no matter their faults – seemed prepared to participate in a fight that had nothing to do with them. They wanted to get involved with an ancient grudge match once started by brothers. It made him feel lucky to know he could depend on such people to fight alongside him, even if he knew they didn't possess the strength to make a real difference.
It was hard to think so coldly about them. 'Guess my time out of school really did change me,' He felt a bit of shame for allowing those thoughts to continue running amok. 'All I did since coming back to U.A was train until I was black and blue. Their effort to bring back...was almost for nothing.'
He subconsciously tightened his grip around Momo's waist. Thankfully, she seem to have caught on to his dark line of thinking and whispered something into his ear, "How about we head back? I do think a movie and cuddling up in bed might not be a bad way to end our little date. Don't you think, beloved?"
That particular nickname only came out in certain situations, and Izuku imagined tonight was going to end much differently than he originally anticipated.
Momo – reluctantly – escaped the comfort of his arms and started dragging him towards the other end of the pier. "I think we should tell Happy we're ready to go," The look on her face prompted him to fall in line. "And if I remember correctly...Pepper did say we were going to be alone in Tony's estate."
No matter what happens in the future, Izuku was absolutely sure about one thing…
The beautiful Momo Yaoyorozu was going to remain a constant in his life. It doesn't matter what needs to be done. He's fought villains like Stain, Shigaraki, and All for One. Whatever lies ahead, he refuses to cower in fear anymore. Plus, there was the promise he made to her parents and the surprise he received from his mother. 'I don't know how I got lucky...but I'm glad she never found the ring in my costume.'
I know what everyone is thinking…
Why did my Cowboys lose to the Raiders on Thanksgiving? No, I'm being serious. But allow me to wash that loss with a win against the Saints. Anyway, let's move on to the actual story and what is going down.
As you can see, things are moving forward. I actually made a pretty decent-sized change to what I originally had planned. I won't spoil the surprise but I am going to be...somewhat incorporating a series I enjoyed a lot. Sadly, it was cut short. If you know what show I'm talking about, please either PM me or don't say anything for those who don't want to be spoiled.
If I remember my notes correctly, the show will be revealed in the next chapter. So the suspense is going to last for long. What else do I need to address? So Iron Man 2 is coming up pretty soon as well. I think it will be starting up in like...a few chapters from now.
For those either still confused or unsure of what's going on, Izuku and Momo – as far as I have planned – will NOT be returning to the MHA universe. They will be participating in the MCU and experience a very...different life as heroes as well as exploring what it would be like to live a regular life.
Yes, I know people are going to be asking about the last line. You'll get your answer whenever that...moment comes along. ;)